Finance Business Partner - Costing & Reporting in Bracknell

Do you want to lead costing and reporting in a strong, solution‑focussed Finance team at an 'Outstanding' NHS Trust? Berkshire Healthcare is seeking a proactive and innovative Costings Lead. The role sits at the heart of our dedicated costing and reporting function. You'll lead the development and delivery of Service Line Reporting (SLR), Patient Level Information and Costing Systems (PLICS), lead national and local Cost Collections and provide senior oversight of key reporting requirements. You'll thrive in a project‑based role, enjoy autonomy and collaboration, building strong internal relationships, and turning complex data into meaningful insight to influence and improve services for patients and staff. You'll be part of a supportive and driven team who are passionate about professional development, and you'll have opportunities to upskill and take on new responsibilities. We have the scope to consider a development role from Band 7 to Band 8a, so welcome applicants meeting many criteria who wish to develop their experience to this level. You'll join an innovative Trust rated as 'Outstanding' by the CQC and recognised as a Global Digital Exemplar. We have an active Quality Improvement culture which is embedded in our Finance team. We're consistently recognised as a great place to work in NHS staff surveys. This is a permanent, full‑time position (Mon‑Fri, 9‑5), with flexibility around core hours. Your main base is Bracknell with ample opportunity for home working.

Main duties of the job:

• Lead the Trust's costing function, including Service Line Reporting (SLR), Patient Level Information and Costing Systems (PLICS), and national and local cost collections, ensuring compliance with NHS guidance.
• Take a senior role in the planning, coordination, and delivery of National Cost Collection submissions, working closely with internal and external stakeholders.
• Oversee and support key reporting activity, balancing annual, monthly, and ad‑hoc requirements, and providing senior cover and assurance.
• Work in partnership with clinical and operational teams to identify gaps in information, improve data quality, and develop practical, value‑adding processes.
• Translate complex costing and reporting data into clear, accessible insight to support decision making and quality improvement.
• Support and embed a Quality Improvement mindset, using costing and reporting insight to unlock improvement opportunities across services.
• Line manage and develop members of the costing and reporting team, fostering a culture of accountability, learning, and continuous improvement.
• Collaborate with IM&T, informatics, and finance colleagues to improve system integration and automate processes where possible.
• Represent the Trust at relevant internal, regional, or national costing and reporting forums.

Applications for this role will be processed as received, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible, as vacancies may close early.

About us:

Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health and community health services trust. Rated 'outstanding' by the CQC, we're committed to providing the best possible care to people across Berkshire. As an employer, we're committed to offering an inclusive and compassionate environment where our people share in a sense of belonging and are supported to flourish. Our values at Berkshire Healthcare are:

• Caring for and about you is our top priority
• Committed to providing good quality, safe services
• Working Together with you to develop innovative solutions

Your wellbeing is important to us. Some of the benefits of working for us include:

• Flexible working options to support work‑life balance
• 27 days' annual leave rising with service + opportunity to buy and sell
• Generous NHS pension scheme
• Excellent learning and career development opportunities
• 'Cycle to Work' and car leasing scheme including electric vehicles
• Access to a range of wellbeing tools and services
• Discounts at hundreds of popular retailers and restaurants
• Staff networks for race, diversity, disabilities, the environment and armed forces community to support equality
• Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and special leave
• Free parking across Trust sites

Job responsibilities:

• CCAB qualified (OR working towards qualification, OR equivalent relevant professional accounting experience)
• Experience in costing and financial reporting
• Experience in cost collection submissions, OR transferable skills from equivalent costing projects (e.g.: time‑based absorption costing), OR a good understanding and drive to learn for a development role
• Strong relationship‑building skills and the ability to communicate complex concepts to finance and non‑finance colleagues
• Solution orientated with a strong focus on quality improvement

Person Specification:

Education/Qualifications/Training (Essential):

• CCAB Professional Qualification

Continuous Professional Development (Essential):

• Evidence of continued CPD

Previous Experience (Essential):

• At least 3 years general accounting experience in a large and complex organisation
• Experience in costing systems, SLR and PLICS
• Experience of supporting or leading a National Cost Collection submission

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (Essential):

• Ability to build and maintain strong collaborative relationships and influence across all levels, both inside and outside of the organisation
• Knowledge and understanding of NHS guidance for statutory and mandatory costing returns.
• High level of IT literacy with experience in use of finance system and reporting tools
• Advanced data analysis skills, with ability to identify and utilise information from a range of sources, being clear their limitations and risk
• Ability to analyse highly complex and sensitive information and appropriately communicate this in a clear and concise manner to colleagues at all levels
• Ability to manage and prioritise own workload to meet deadlines
• Ability to work autonomously and set own priorities

Additional Requirements (Essential):

• Strong commitment to both the Trusts and NHS principles and values
• Demonstrable understanding of personal and professional accountability and how that drives standards within a team

We are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.

Employer details:

Employer name: Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust
Address: London House, London Road, Bracknell, RG12 2UT

Disclosure and Barring Service Check:

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship:

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the website.

Contact:

We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please don't hesitate to call: Alex Packard on 01344415810 or email alex.packard@berkshire.nhs.uk who'll be delighted to help.